Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07THEHAGUE781
2007-04-26 15:31:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: ANNOYED BY INITIAL
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTC #0781/01 1161531 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 261531Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8982 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2649 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0267 RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHOND/DIR ONDCP WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAFVS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
S E C R E T THE HAGUE 000781
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO S PARTY IN OSLO
STATE PASS USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, INL/AP, INL/FO, SCA
OSD FOR KIMMITT
ONDCP FOR DIRECTOR
CIA FOR CNC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO SNAR AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: ANNOYED BY INITIAL
ERADICATION OPERATIONS
REF: KABUL 1426
Classified By: CDA Chat Blakeman, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
S E C R E T THE HAGUE 000781
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO S PARTY IN OSLO
STATE PASS USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, INL/AP, INL/FO, SCA
OSD FOR KIMMITT
ONDCP FOR DIRECTOR
CIA FOR CNC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO SNAR AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: ANNOYED BY INITIAL
ERADICATION OPERATIONS
REF: KABUL 1426
Classified By: CDA Chat Blakeman, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) Summary: The Dutch MFA is irate the GOA violated one
of the conditions the Dutch set concerning poppy eradication
operations in Uruzgan province. According to the MFA, the
Dutch EMBASSY in Kabul raised its objections with the GOA and
the U.S. Embassy, and may raise them at the NATO foreign
ministerial in Oslo. MFA Task Force Uruzgan Coordinator
Pieter-Jan Kleiweg de Zwaan discussed these issues with
polmiloff on April 26. End summary.
2. (C) Kleiweg said the Dutch agreed to support Afghan
Eradication Force (AEF) operations in Uruzgan province
contingent upon the GOA honoring certain conditions: 1)
eradication operations only occur to the west of Tarin Kowt;
2) targeting large farmers, not small farmers; 3) "tribally
neutral" targeting; and 4) follow-up review by the United
Nations and USAID. Kleiweg confirmed that the condition
regarding eradication operations to the west of Tarin Kowt
was intended to focus on land owned and operated by former
Uruzgan governor Jan Mohammed Khan. Kleiweg said the Dutch
had "clearly articulated" these conditions in Kabul, and
"received assurances" the GOA would honor them.
3. (C) Kleiweg said AEF poppy eradication began in Uruzgan on
April 26, but "already on the first day" the AEF had violated
one of the Dutch conditions. According to Kleiweg, the AEF
was set to cross over the Vanu Bridge to proceed to fields to
the west of Tarin Kowt, but observed large poppy fields on
the eastern side of the Helmand River and initiated
eradication operations to the east of Tarin Kowt. Kleiweg
said that it was "clear" from the Dutch perspective that the
eradication operations had "already fallen victim to Uruzgan
internal politics."
4. (S) Kleiweg reiterated that poppy eradication was an
extremely sensitive issue in the Dutchcabinet, especially as
Development Minister BertKoenders opposes eradication. "The
fact that Konders publicly supported the need for
eradicationduring the parliamentary debate," on April 25,
sid Kleiweg, "was nearly impossible to arrange." I fact,
Kleiweg said the MFA had deliberately choen not to inform
Koenders that the first day of radication occurred to the
east of Tarin Kowt.
5. (C) Kleiweg said the Dutch EMBASSY in Kabul hasraised
objections with the GOA and U.S. Embassy,and was told the
AEF had "made a mistake" (as reorted reftel). He said the
Dutch may raise thes objections in Washington and during the
NATO infrmal foreign ministerial in Oslo on April 27.
Kliweg noted that Foreign Minister Verhagen has saidthat
the Dutch could apply a "political veto" toany eradication
operation in Uruzgan should the conditions the Dutch set not
be honored. However, Kleiweg was not sure how such a "veto"
would work, especially as eradication is a GOA policy.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Eradication in Uruzgan remains an extremely sensitive
issue for the Dutch, especially for Koender's Labor Party.
At a time when the cabinet is just beginning the internal
debate on whether and in what form to extend the Dutch
presence in Uruzgan, any perception that Dutch concerns are
not being taking seriously will play into the hands of those
-- mainly on the left -- pushing to end the deployment in
Summer 2008, as currently scheduled. Such incidents as
today's AEF operation, even when accidental, will not help
make the case for an extension in the cabinet or Parliament.
As reported reftel, the AEF will resume operations tomorrow
in agreed areas. In addition to possibly raising this
incident in Oslo, Verhagen will most likely want to discuss
Afghan eradication efforts with ONDCP Director John Walters
when he visits here on May 7.
BLAKEMAN
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE PASS TO S PARTY IN OSLO
STATE PASS USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, INL/AP, INL/FO, SCA
OSD FOR KIMMITT
ONDCP FOR DIRECTOR
CIA FOR CNC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO SNAR AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: ANNOYED BY INITIAL
ERADICATION OPERATIONS
REF: KABUL 1426
Classified By: CDA Chat Blakeman, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) Summary: The Dutch MFA is irate the GOA violated one
of the conditions the Dutch set concerning poppy eradication
operations in Uruzgan province. According to the MFA, the
Dutch EMBASSY in Kabul raised its objections with the GOA and
the U.S. Embassy, and may raise them at the NATO foreign
ministerial in Oslo. MFA Task Force Uruzgan Coordinator
Pieter-Jan Kleiweg de Zwaan discussed these issues with
polmiloff on April 26. End summary.
2. (C) Kleiweg said the Dutch agreed to support Afghan
Eradication Force (AEF) operations in Uruzgan province
contingent upon the GOA honoring certain conditions: 1)
eradication operations only occur to the west of Tarin Kowt;
2) targeting large farmers, not small farmers; 3) "tribally
neutral" targeting; and 4) follow-up review by the United
Nations and USAID. Kleiweg confirmed that the condition
regarding eradication operations to the west of Tarin Kowt
was intended to focus on land owned and operated by former
Uruzgan governor Jan Mohammed Khan. Kleiweg said the Dutch
had "clearly articulated" these conditions in Kabul, and
"received assurances" the GOA would honor them.
3. (C) Kleiweg said AEF poppy eradication began in Uruzgan on
April 26, but "already on the first day" the AEF had violated
one of the Dutch conditions. According to Kleiweg, the AEF
was set to cross over the Vanu Bridge to proceed to fields to
the west of Tarin Kowt, but observed large poppy fields on
the eastern side of the Helmand River and initiated
eradication operations to the east of Tarin Kowt. Kleiweg
said that it was "clear" from the Dutch perspective that the
eradication operations had "already fallen victim to Uruzgan
internal politics."
4. (S) Kleiweg reiterated that poppy eradication was an
extremely sensitive issue in the Dutchcabinet, especially as
Development Minister BertKoenders opposes eradication. "The
fact that Konders publicly supported the need for
eradicationduring the parliamentary debate," on April 25,
sid Kleiweg, "was nearly impossible to arrange." I fact,
Kleiweg said the MFA had deliberately choen not to inform
Koenders that the first day of radication occurred to the
east of Tarin Kowt.
5. (C) Kleiweg said the Dutch EMBASSY in Kabul hasraised
objections with the GOA and U.S. Embassy,and was told the
AEF had "made a mistake" (as reorted reftel). He said the
Dutch may raise thes objections in Washington and during the
NATO infrmal foreign ministerial in Oslo on April 27.
Kliweg noted that Foreign Minister Verhagen has saidthat
the Dutch could apply a "political veto" toany eradication
operation in Uruzgan should the conditions the Dutch set not
be honored. However, Kleiweg was not sure how such a "veto"
would work, especially as eradication is a GOA policy.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) Eradication in Uruzgan remains an extremely sensitive
issue for the Dutch, especially for Koender's Labor Party.
At a time when the cabinet is just beginning the internal
debate on whether and in what form to extend the Dutch
presence in Uruzgan, any perception that Dutch concerns are
not being taking seriously will play into the hands of those
-- mainly on the left -- pushing to end the deployment in
Summer 2008, as currently scheduled. Such incidents as
today's AEF operation, even when accidental, will not help
make the case for an extension in the cabinet or Parliament.
As reported reftel, the AEF will resume operations tomorrow
in agreed areas. In addition to possibly raising this
incident in Oslo, Verhagen will most likely want to discuss
Afghan eradication efforts with ONDCP Director John Walters
when he visits here on May 7.
BLAKEMAN